>> this is the journal on dw in berlin. >> i am brain thomas. good to have you with us. these are the headlines at this hour. as fighters push deeper into iraq, we will talk live on the ground in multiple and istanbul, and get -- in multiple and is central, and get the reaction from washington. >> and we will talk to our correspondent. >> and soccer in brazil, but not is all well with the world cop -- world cup. our sports correspondent joins

us in the studio. >> the jihadist lightning in a sense -- offensive in iraq continues to gain ground, barely closing in on the capital of baghdad. they have already seized the strategic oil city of mosul, and oil city. >> they have already captured a large swath of the country, prompting as many as half a million people to flee their homes. >> we will go live to the region, but first this report. >> iraqi soldiers engage targets southwest of precooked -- of precooked -- kirkuk. the mass exit is from the region

continues. about half a million people are said to have left mosul, many of them on foot. they are making their way north, including these refugees in the kurdish province. >> all of the people have fled. they have left their homes and many are lying dead in the streets. [no audio] we left our relatives behind. >> since tuesday, islamist fighters have been in control of the province. they stormed the turkish consulate in modal -- mosul and have taken about 50 hostages. since the beginning of the year, the militants have held large parts of anbar province and large parts of neighboring syria. their aim is to establish strict islamist law in iraq and syria. and they're getting closer every day.

on their advance toward baghdad, they have taken part of kirkuk province, the will producing center, and the city of tikrit. iraq's foreign minister spoke of a potential alliance with kurdish fighters to drive them out of mosul. >> there will be a closer cooperation between baghdad and the kurdistan government to work together to try to flush out these foreign fighters, or elements that have disturbed the safety, the well-being of the population. >> iraq's shia prime minister nouri al-maliki has appealed to the leaders of the divided groups to unite against the islamists. but two years after the withdrawal of u.s. troops, the successors of al qaeda in iraq are stronger than ever before.

>> let's bring in live vladimir von totenberg, an analyst with the jamestown foundation. he joins us north of mosul. it looks like the iraqi government there has just fled. what is the situation there where you are in mosul? >> i was in mosul just before the fighting started on one june, but i was lucky to get out alive. [no audio] there were a lot of iraqi soldiers they're being treated who deserted and fled. and there were also local and kurdish forces that were struck in the fighting. some people are talking about half a million civilians in the

kurdish region of a rack. -- of iraq. it is spilling over into other provinces. >> what about the iraqi military echo are they anywhere to have -- the iraqi military echo are they anywhere to be seen? >> many of the soldiers have fled, but according to the soldiers i've spoken to and kurdish security forces, the mosul iraqi soldiers that were based there, most of them have fled to the kurdish region and to to walk. i talked to a soldier today who was from the north of baghdad. he was trying to find a way to get back to baghdad, but he was afraid he could get imprisoned for deserting the iraqi army.

>> thank you for that update. take care of yourself. >> tanks a lot. >> as we've been reporting, there have also been objections of kurdish embassy staff. first off, why are these jihadist targeting turkish nationals? and what is ingres -- what is ankara saying about the abduction? >> they fed into the hands of the islamic group. they remain there despite the rapidly deteriorating situation. ankara at the moment is saying that there is something in the number of 49, including family members, are being held in their quarters. and that they have not been harmed. they also understand there have not been any more talks of

negotiations or what they want. he has been speaking with his iraqi and u.s. counterparts. he has also given a warning that if anything happens to any of the embassy staff, then there will be an immediate response from turkey. [no audio] the fact of why these embassy officials, and so many of them including family members, were kept hostage in this rapidly deteriorating situation. >> and it is not just the embassy staff. it is also these drop tigers -- truck drivers. what has happened to them? >> they were delivering coal from turkey to that power station. i have spoken to a turkish newspaper and he said they are being treated ok.

and the islamic group has sent a ransom demand of several million dollars. >> we will have to leave it there. thanks so much. the united states says it is deeply concerned about the deep -- the tiered teary -- the deteriorating situation in iraq. our state department spokeswoman says that the situation is fluid in that she cannot confirm reports that fighters are heading toward baghdad. the u.s., she added, can be expected to provide additional help to combat te islamists. there has been warning of exactly this kind of risk, a worst-case scenario involving

after the american pullout. let's bring in our correspondent from washington. max, where does an american iraqi policy go from here, and is there concern that the u.s. could lose iraqi? >> a lot of people in washington would probably argue that the u.s. does not have iraq in th first place. and some people see that they have been kicked out by the malki government in the end of -- maliki government at the end of 2011. nevertheless, it is the same thing. the americans pulled out, and ever since, the relation with the maliki government has been, to say the least, difficult. just this year, they have provided 300 missiles, and i don't see much more happening than that. at least not with the track record of this administration. >> the obama administration is taking plenty of heat lately for

its foreign-policy setbacks -- ukraine, see rio, and now iraq -- ukraine, syria, and now iraq. >> these situations are quite different. in the ukraine, someone argue that obama has had some success in the threat has not escalated. the question always or mains -- what could obama have done differently than what he did? some advice comes from his former secretary of state hillary clinton in her new book where she said she would have armed the moderate syrian rebels much sooner. that would be a hint which direction she would take if she was president. we don't know if that would have been more successful, but we do know that obama is taking a lot of heat because he does appear reluctant. >> as ever, thanks so very much. >> back here in europe,

commuters across the continent face chaos as taxidrivers walk off the job in protest against hoover -- uber. greg you can summon a taxi at the touch of an app -- >> you can summon a taxi at the touch of a nap. it has been met with enthusiasm in the u.s. where it launched five years ago. >> in london, black cap drivers blockaded westminster. and there were similar scenes near trafalgar square. in paris, drivers skirmished with officials as they cut off access to charles de gaulle and lee airports. they were demonstrating against hooking up passengers with private cars for hire. >> it is really organized theft. they are their own bosses.

they do not declare their takings. and they are open 24 hours. it is a problem for the government and they cannot let this go on. >> the protests targeted uber, a mobile app that is available in more than three dozen countries. the app market itself as a reliable, cheap alternative to the traditional taxi ride. but cap members and contractors -- but the cap members say contractors do not have to pass special tests or obtained special licenses. [no audio] to adapt to a changing world. it inc. services like uber are good for customers. >> ok, but not good for taxidrivers. joining us with more, kristof from our business desk. why is it that you object -- you don't object to uber the way taxidrivers here do? clicks because it is seen as competition.

they have established what is seen as a monopoly in many cities. the new player in the picture could lead to thinking prices -- a sinking prices for customers and that is something policymakers want to take credit for. >> but don't taxidrivers have a point? some of these are safety regulations and other things that consumers like. >> exactly. you do have a point for several reasons. first, let's look at the service for a second. it provides an apt -- an app for which passengers and drivers get connected. the driver can just look around to see if someone is around to -- willing to give them a ride. once they get connected, the price of the ride is usually much lower than the cab ride. and that angers traditional cap companies, because they say we are paying for insurance, for examples, that covers in case of an accident, and we pay for licenses. that all adds to the price.

cab drivers are saying, we are professionals. we know the route, the traffic conditions. all understandable reasons. but competition is welcome. we have seen it and heard it. it will be interesting to see how policymakers address -- if they address and how they address -- these strikes. >> we will see as the summer get hotter -- gets hotter. the eu is seeking to tighten the noose on corporate tax evaders and they are launching investigations into tax deals struck by multinational companies like apple, fiat, and starbucks. and the european commission is probing whether ireland, luxembourg, and the netherlands offer advantageous tax breaks for those companies. one commissioner says such moves would distort competition in the single market. last year, u.s. lawmakers found apple had avoided paying billions in taxes using ireland as a tax haven.

both ireland and apple have said they are acting within the law. >> germany is looking good in the kickoff. >> i would say so. it will be tough, but i think they can do it. they can do it. >> welcome back. the head of world soccer, the governing body, fever has called for -- fifa was speaking. >> he told delegates they needed to do the right thing, even at it -- if it came at a cost. he made no mention of corruption allegations surrounding the awarding of the world cup to qatar. >> he has not yet announced that he plans to spend -- stands for thefifa presidency again, but

he is expected to do so. jefferson chase joins us to talk about fifa's troubles. let's talk about the investigation. when can we expect the report and what likelihood is there that the qata -- thwe qatar decision will be overturned? >> it is pretty unlikely that qa tar will be hosting the world cup. they would need to prove that someone has been given a bribe and that it was taken. that is difficult to prove. even though it is an unpopular venue, it will go ahead, i think. >> said blatter has been on a charm offensive. how do you think it is going to go?

>> the results have been pretty mixed. he has got a lot of support from african delegates, who appreciate he is putting them in focus. but basically, everyone in europe is mad at the qatar decision and most of the people from the uafa say they will not support the decision. >> there is a lot of criticism, but isn't that the case all of time anyway? >> i think so, but this is a special case. they are planning to have a world cup in a country where it is 50 degrees celsius in the summer. it is a very unpopular decision, especially in europe where people like to go outside and have a beer. >> stay with us. we will be back with you in just a bit. >> enough with the protests and on with the party. that was the message from the brazilian president on the eve of the world cup kickoff. >> the billions spent on the tournament have upset many in brazil.

in a tv address, she said she understood the concerns of protesters, but stressed that the world cup would bring more money into the country and create new jobs. she also promised that the tournament would be the biggest in history, and that the eyes of the world are now focused on brazil. >> some emotive words from the president, but what are people in brazil actually thinking? our reporter is there in rio de janeiro. >> an entire street draped in brazil's national colors. here in reno's -- in rios famous tissue district, there is always a call for competition with broadcast live open-air. this is especially important this year after months of antigovernment protests. he wants to shine a light on everything brazil has to offer. >> people outside the country only see the negative side of brazil. but we are going to show the world what it means to be brazilian. we want everyone to feel welcome

and share our love of the game. soccer is like a religion in brazil, but the cost of staging the event has turned many fans here against it. half of the resilience say hosting the cup was a mistake. -- half of brazilians say hosting the cup was a mistake. but that does not mean they will not be tuning in. >> i'm just around the corner. i'll be taking part in the craziness. >> i'm looking forward to it. >> of course i will watch the matches. i still think the money should have been spent on hospitals, but i guess we just have to live with that. >> travel just a few kilometers north and it becomes clear how badly hospitals are needed. especially in rio's slums, like here. many say the billions that went into the tournament would have been better spent in this area. their decorating the streets with black -- he is decorating

the streets with black ribbon. for him, the world cup is not a celebration. his is a small protest, and peaceful. but nevertheless, keeping a constant -- police are nevertheless heaping a constant watch. >> this month will certainly be intense for me. there will be protests, maybe not as many as last year, but we plan to be there. >> time you live close to one of the world cup venues. he and his friends hope to convince his neighbors to when their campaign. he is a milieu with their day to day concerns, but he also knows that for many, football still comes first. >> we're really excited about the world cup and the foreign visitors. it will be a huge party attracting people who would normally never come to this area. >> i'm going to watch the world cup and relax, either at home or on the street. but if you were to ask me about the government investment in the

tournament, i would say that money should have been used for something more important. >> brazilians are waiting for the world cup kickoff with mixed feelings. even the colorful street tagore can do little to disguise -- street decor can do little to disguise just how defiant they are. >> thank you, jefferson chase. brazil is one of the top four favorite. what is it looking like? >> it is not just one of the top four favorite, but the favorite, according to the bookmakers. obviously, they have the advantage of it being their home stadium. [no audio] but i don't think they're showing by any stretch of imagination. this is not one of the historically great brazilian teams. and they are under tremendous pressure. it is kind of a balancing act. on the one hand, you have home advantage.

on the other, lots and lots of pressure. >> cameroon in 1990, turkey in south korea in 2002 -- who will do it this time? >> if you believe the bookmakers, it will be belgium, because they are the fifth ranks. that is because they have a lot of stars that playing england. i would say, keep your eye on uruguay. they are grouped with england, and italy. those are two teams that are right -- ripe. and of course, they won the world cup the last time it was held in brazil, albeit in 1950. >> people are out there taking notes. who is going to win this match? >> i will go out on a limb and i would say the world cup champions will be spain. until someone beats those who

have won the last big stadiums, they are the favorites. i think spain will be brazil in the final. >> we now have it on tape, jefferson chase. thanks for joining us. in other news, police in south korea have rated a religious commune, part of a nationwide hunt for a businessman linked for -- linked to the april ferry disaster where 300 people died. >> the alleged owner of the faerie operating company -- of the ferry operating company has been missing for more than a month. three were charged on helping him evade capture. and in news from egypt, abdul allow for the, one of the -- abdul allah fatah, one of the most prominent figures in the

protests against mubarak has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison. >> egypt's courts have been cracking down on the -- on those from secular music -- on those from secular movements as well as from the muslim brotherhood. germany's exports are worth more than ever before, according to a new government report. but given the value -- >> given the value of last year's arms sales, a 25% jump year-over-year. it proved deals are not without their critics. politicians have warned that if weapons are sent abroad, they could get into the wrong hands. and european aircraft manufacturer airbus has had us -- a huge setback. dubai's emirates airlines has canceled an order for 350.

>> emirates had ordered 70 new airliners back in 2007. the first planes were to be delivered in 2019. airbus would have made about 12 billion euros from the deal. >> and there is more bad aviation news today. here is more from the frankfurt stock exchange. >> in a minute, airbus lost 1/10 of all its orders. this, of course, weighed heavily on its shares, because investors also think that the situation may even worsen because lufthansa canceled its goals for the year. the company will earn much less than people expected before. this may also lead to the fact that lufthansa may start cutting programs. lufthansa shares went down 14% in a market where investors are

profit-taking. >> before we go, germany's top diplomat has indulged in a bit of a sweet side in the name of soccer diplomacy. >> he handed out chocolate soccer ball to the ambassadors of countries competing in the world cup. the treat come courtesy of the chocolatier in cologne. the prime minister has his fingers crossed 14 germany, but admits that the host team brazil will be tough to beat. >> i guess we will have -- i guess they'll have to eat them or they will just melt anyway. >> i'm sure many of them are ready gone. >> thank you for joining us.

1go acú >> iraqi officials say al qaeda

linked insurgents have gained control of the city situated 100 50 kilometers north of the capital -- 150 kilometers north of act that. -- baghdad. the insurgents are members of the islamic state. say ahe violence police suicide bomber killed 15 people in baghdad. the embattled prime